U.S. patent application number 12/923457 was filed with the patent office on 2011-04-07 for convertible peristaltic and piston pump dispenser.
Invention is credited to Andrew Jones, Heiner Ophardt.
Application Number | 20110079615 12/923457 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43822407 |
Filed Date | 2011-04-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110079615 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ophardt; Heiner ; et
al. |
April 7, 2011 |
Convertible peristaltic and piston pump dispenser
Abstract
A dispenser for flowable material adapted for engagement and for
dispensing fluid from either a replaceable piston pump reservoir
unit comprising a reservoir bottle and a piston pump or a
replaceable peristaltic pump reservoir unit comprising a reservoir
bottle and a deformable tube member.
Inventors: |
Ophardt; Heiner; (Vineland,
CA) ; Jones; Andrew; (Smithville, CA) |
Family ID: |
43822407 |
Appl. No.: |
12/923457 |
Filed: |
September 22, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
222/181.3 ;
222/214; 222/321.8 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47K 5/1215 20130101;
G01F 11/025 20130101; G01F 11/125 20130101; F04B 9/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
222/181.3 ;
222/214; 222/321.8 |
International
Class: |
B67D 7/06 20100101
B67D007/06; B65D 37/00 20060101 B65D037/00; G01F 11/00 20060101
G01F011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 2, 2009 |
CA |
2680993 |
Claims
1. A dispenser for flowable materials comprising: a replaceable
piston pump reservoir unit comprising a reservoir for flowable
material and a piston pump, the piston pump including a piston
chamber-forming member coupled to the reservoir and forming a
piston chamber in communication with material in the reservoir, the
piston pump including a piston element reciprocally slidably
received in piston chamber-forming member for movement between a
retracted position and an extended position to dispense material
from the reservoir out a piston pump outlet on the piston element,
a replaceable peristaltic pump reservoir unit comprising a
reservoir for flowable material and a deformable tube member in
communication with material in the reservoir providing a
peristaltic pump outlet to dispense material from the reservoir, a
housing; the housing including both a piston pump socket
arrangement adapted to removably engage the piston pump reservoir
unit for dispensing material from the piston pump reservoir unit
and a peristaltic pump socket arrangement adapted to removably
engage the pump reservoir unit for dispensing material from the
peristaltic pump reservoir unit; the piston pump socket arrangement
including a piston carriage member mounted to the housing for
relative movement between a first position and a second position;
the piston carriage adapted to removably engage the piston element;
an actuator member mounted to the housing for relative movement
between a retracted position and an extended position; the piston
carriage member and actuator member coupled such that movement of
the actuator member between the retracted position and the extended
position correspondingly moves the piston carriage member between
the first position and the second position; the peristaltic pump
socket arrangement having a first block member and a second block
member removably receiving the deformable tube there between, the
first block member and the second block mounted to the housing for
movement towards and away from each other between a distant first
position and a proximate second position to compress the deformable
tube and dispense material from an outlet distal end of the
deformable tube; the first block member and actuator member coupled
such that movement of the actuator member between the retracted
position and the extended position correspondingly moves the first
member between the first position and the second position.
2. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 including a biasing member
biasing the actuator member toward one of the retracted position
and the extended position.
3. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the actuator member
having a handle portion for engagement by a user to manually move
the actuator member toward the one of the retracted position and
the extended position against the bias of the biasing member.
4. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the actuator member
includes a lever mounted to the housing for relative pivoting about
a pivot axis between the retracted position and the extended
position.
5. A dispenser as claimed in claim 4 wherein the pivot axis is
horizontal.
6. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the piston carriage
member is mounted to the housing for relative sliding movement
between the first position and the second position.
7. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein when the piston pump
reservoir unit is engaged with the piston pump socket arrangement,
the piston element is slidable vertically relative the piston
chamber-forming member, the piston carriage member is mounted to
the housing for relative vertical sliding movement between the
first position and the second position.
8. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein the piston carriage
member having a first cam surface, the lever having a second cam
surface engaging the first cam surface to couple the piston
carriage member and actuator member.
9. A dispenser as claimed in claim 2 wherein the piston carriage
member having a first cam surface, the lever having a second cam
surface engaging the first cam surface to couple the piston carnage
member and actuator member; the biasing member in biasing the
actuator member toward one of the retracted position and the
extended position biasing the second cam surface of the lever into
the first cam surface on the piston carriage member.
10. A dispenser as claimed in claim 5 wherein the first block
member is carried on the lever and the second block member is
mounted on the housing.
11. A dispenser as claimed in claim 5 wherein the first block
member is mounted on the housing and the second block member is
carried on the piston carriage member.
12. A dispenser as claimed in claim 11 wherein the first block
member is fixedly secured to the housing.
13. A dispenser as claimed in claim 12 wherein the second block
member is fixedly secured to the piston carriage member.
14. A dispenser as claimed in claim 11 wherein the piston pump
dispenses material on movement of the piston carnage member
downwardly moving the piston element toward the extended position,
the peristaltic pump dispenses material on movement of the piston
element downwardly moving the second block member from the distant
first position toward the distant second position to compress the
deformable tube.
15. A dispenser as claimed in claim 14 wherein the handle portion
is pushed by a user away from the user to move the actuator member
toward the retracted position against the bias of the biasing
member to move the piston carriage member downwardly.
16. A dispenser as claimed in claim 5 wherein the handle portion is
pushed by a user away from the user to move the actuator member
toward the retracted position against the bias of the biasing
member to move the piston carriage member upwardly.
17. A dispenser as claimed in claim 16 wherein the piston pump
dispenses material on movement of the piston carriage member
upwardly moving the piston element toward the retracted position,
the peristaltic pump dispenses material on movement of the piston
element upwardly moving the second block member from the distant
first position toward the distant second position to compress the
deformable tube.
18. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein when the piston pump
reservoir unit is engaged with the piston pump socket arrangement,
the piston carriage engages the piston element, and manual movement
by a user of the handle portion moves the actuator member which
moves the piston carriage member and the engaged piston element
dispensing material from the reservoir out the piston pump outlet,
and when the peristaltic pump reservoir unit is engaged with the
peristaltic pump socket arrangement, the first block member and the
second block member receives the deformable tube there between, and
manual movement by a user of the handle portion moves the actuator
member which moves the first block member and the second block
member compressing the deformable tube dispensing material from the
reservoir out the peristaltic pump outlet.
19. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein only one of the
following conditions may exist simultaneously: a first condition in
which the piston pump reservoir unit is engaged with the piston
pump socket arrangement, and a second condition in which the
peristaltic pump reservoir unit is engaged with the peristaltic
pump socket arrangement.
20. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 wherein both of the following
conditions may exist simultaneously: a first condition in which the
piston pump reservoir unit is engaged with the piston pump socket
arrangement, and a second condition in which the peristaltic pump
reservoir unit is engaged with the peristaltic pump socket
arrangement.
Description
SCOPE OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention provides a fluid dispenser adapted for
dispensing fluid from a replaceable reservoir unit including either
a piston pump or a peristaltic pump.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] In the soap dispensing industry, there are many types of
products to be dispensed including pastes, lotions, gels, liquids
and foam products. These various products can require different
pumping arrangements including different pumps and operational
strokes. For example, some products are advantageously dispensed
via soap dispensers including a reciprocating piston pump. While
other products are preferably dispensed via a peristaltic pump in
which a tube is squeezed to displace the fluid.
[0003] The present invention has appreciated that a disadvantage
arises that known dispensing units are not capable of dispensing
fluid from both a piston pump and a peristaltic pump.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] To at least partially overcome these disadvantages of
previously known devices, the present invention provides a
dispenser for flowable materials comprising a housing adapted to
dispense materials either via a piston pump or a peristaltic
pump.
[0005] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided
a dispenser for flowable material adapted for engagement and for
dispensing fluid from either a replaceable piston pump reservoir
unit comprising a reservoir bottle and a piston pump or a
replaceable peristaltic pump reservoir unit comprising a reservoir
bottle and a deformable tube member. The dispenser housing includes
having a first socket arrangement adapted to removably engage the
piston pump reservoir unit and a peristaltic pump socket
arrangement adapted to removably engage the peristaltic pump
reservoir unit. The housing includes an actuator member which when
moved, moves both a piston carriage member adapted to be coupled to
a piston element of the piston pump reservoir unit and a block
member adapted to compress the deformable tube of the peristaltic
pump reservoir unit. By movement of the actuator member, material
is dispensed from the piston pump reservoir unit and/or the
peristaltic pump reservoir unit coupled to the housing.
[0006] In one aspect, the present invention provides a dispenser
for flowable materials comprising:
[0007] a replaceable piston pump reservoir unit comprising a
reservoir for flowable material and a piston pump, the piston pump
including a piston chamber-forming member coupled to the reservoir
and forming a piston chamber in communication with material in the
reservoir, the piston pump including a piston element reciprocally
slidably received in piston chamber-forming member for movement
between a retracted position and an extended position to dispense
material from the reservoir out a piston pump outlet on the piston
element,
[0008] a replaceable peristaltic pump reservoir unit comprising a
reservoir for flowable material and a deformable tube member in
communication with material in the reservoir providing a
peristaltic pump outlet to dispense material from the
reservoir,
[0009] a housing;
[0010] the housing including both a piston pump socket arrangement
adapted to removably engage the piston pump reservoir unit for
dispensing material from the piston pump reservoir unit and a
peristaltic pump socket arrangement adapted to removably engage the
pump reservoir unit for dispensing material from the peristaltic
pump reservoir unit;
[0011] the piston pump socket arrangement including a piston
carriage member mounted to the housing for relative movement
between a first position and a second position;
[0012] the piston carriage adapted to removably engage the piston
element;
[0013] an actuator member mounted to the housing for relative
movement between a retracted position and an extended position,
[0014] a biasing member biasing the actuator member toward one of
the retracted position and the extended position;
[0015] the actuator member having a handle portion for engagement
by a user to manually move the actuator member toward the one of
the retracted position and the extended position against the bias
of the biasing member;
[0016] the piston carriage member and actuator member coupled such
that movement of the actuator member between the retracted position
and the extended position correspondingly moves the piston carriage
member between the first position and the second position;
[0017] the peristaltic pump socket arrangement having a first block
member and a second block member removably receiving the deformable
tube there between, the first block member and the second block
mounted to the housing for movement towards and away from each
other between a distant first position and a proximate second
position to compress the deformable tube and dispense material from
an outlet distal end of the deformable tube;
[0018] the first block member and actuator member coupled such that
movement of the actuator member between the retracted position and
the extended position correspondingly moves the first member
between the first position and the second position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent from the following description taken together with
the accompanying drawings in which:
[0020] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of upper portions of a
dispenser base assembly in accordance with a first embodiment of
the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the components of the
dispenser base assembly shown in FIG. 1;
[0022] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of lower portions of selected
elements of the dispenser base assembly shown in FIG. 2;
[0023] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the dispenser base assembly shown
in FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 5 is a side view of the elements shown in FIG. 3 in an
extended position;
[0025] FIG. 6 is a side view identical to FIG. 5 but showing the
elements in a retracted position;
[0026] FIG. 7 is a pictorial view showing the dispenser assembly of
FIG. 1 with a piston pump reservoir unit coupled thereto;
[0027] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the piston pump reservoir
unit shown in FIG. 7;
[0028] FIG. 9 is an exploded pictorial view of the piston pump
shown on the piston pump reservoir unit in FIG. 8;
[0029] FIG. 10 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the
dispenser shown in FIG. 7;
[0030] FIG. 11 is a pictorial view showing the dispenser assembly
of FIG. 1 with a peristaltic pump reservoir unit coupled
thereto;
[0031] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the peristaltic pump
reservoir unit shown in FIG. 11;
[0032] FIG. 13 is an exploded pictorial view of the cap and
deformable tube of the peristaltic pump shown on the piston pump
reservoir unit in FIG. 12;
[0033] FIG. 14 is a schematic vertical cross-sectional view of the
peristaltic pump shown in FIG. 11;
[0034] FIG. 15 is a side view similar to FIG. 5 but of a second
embodiment of the invention;
[0035] FIG. 16 is a side view similar to FIG. 5 but of a third
embodiment of the invention;
[0036] FIG. 17 is a cross-sectional view of an alternate piston
pump for use with the third embodiment; and
[0037] FIG. 18 is a side view of the dispenser base assembly of
FIG. 1 with both a piston pump reservoir unit and a peristaltic
pump reservoir unit attached.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0038] Reference is made to FIG. 1 which shows a dispenser base
assembly 10 in accordance with the present invention. The base
assembly 10 provides a piston pump socket 12 and a peristaltic pump
socket 14. The piston pump socket 12 is adapted to removably engage
a piston pump reservoir unit 16 as shown in FIG. 8 in a coupled
manner as shown in FIG. 7. The peristaltic pump socket 14 is
adapted to receive a peristaltic pump reservoir unit 18 shown in
FIG. 12 in a coupled manner as shown in FIG. 11.
[0039] As seen in FIG. 2, the dispenser base assembly 10 includes a
housing 20, biasing springs 21, a piston carriage member 22, a
first block member 23, a second block assembly 24 and a push lever
actuator member 25.
[0040] The first block member 23 is fixedly secured to the housing
20 against relative movement. The piston carriage member 22 is
mounted to the housing 20 with the biasing springs 21 disposed
between the housing 20 and the piston carriage member 22 biasing
the piston carriage member 22 downwardly as seen in FIG. 2. The
piston carriage member 22, as best seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, has a
guide member 27 at its rear carrying vertical slide surfaces 28.
The guide member 27 is slidably disposed within a vertically
extending guideway 29 on the housing 20 with guide members 30 to
engage the vertical guide surfaces 28 guiding the piston carriage
member 22 for sliding vertically relative the housing 20 between a
lower first position and an upper second position. The piston
carriage member 22 carries an upwardly open socket 31 adapted to
releasably engage a piston element 32 of a piston pump 33 shown in
FIG. 9. The housing carries the piston pump socket 12 within which
a collar 26 on a piston chamber-forming member 35 of the piston
pump 33 may be secured fixed against vertical movement relative to
the housing. As will be described later in greater detail, when a
piston pump reservoir unit is coupled to the dispenser base
assembly 10, reciprocal vertical movement of piston carriage member
22 in a cycle of operation will dispense fluid from an outlet 36 on
the piston element 32.
[0041] The actuator member 25 is mounted to the housing 20 for
pivoting about a pivot axis 37 by reason of stub axles 38 on the
actuator member 25 being engaged within journal sockets 39 on
opposed side walls 40 of the housing. The actuator member 25
includes a forwardly directed handle portion 41 adapted for
engagement by a user to push the handle portion 41 rearwardly and
thus pivot the actuator member 25 about the pivot axis 37,
clockwise as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0042] As best seen in FIG. 3, the actuator member 25 includes a
pair of rearwardly extending arms 42 each having an upwardly
directed, second, cam surface 43. The piston carriage member 22 has
a downwardly directed first cam surface 44 on each side thereof.
The springs 21 bias the piston carriage member 22 downwardly to
place the first cam surface 44 into engagement with the second cam
surfaces 43.
[0043] FIG. 5 shows in a schematic side view, the relative
positions of the actuator member 25, the first block member 23 and
the piston carriage member 22 in a first configuration with the
piston carriage member 22 in a first lower position fully
retracted. From this fully retracted first position shown in FIG.
5, manual engagement of the handle portion 41 of the actuator
member 25 will pivot the actuator member 25 relative the housing 20
about axis 37. FIG. 6 illustrates a configuration in which the
actuator member 25 has been pivoted about the pivot axis 37 from a
first position to a second position. Engagement between the second
cam surface 43 on the arms 42 of the actuator member 25 and the
first cam surfaces 44 on the piston carriage member 22 has slid the
piston carriage member 22 upwardly to a retracted second position.
On release of the pressure applied manually to the handle portion
41 of the actuator member 25, the bias of the springs 21 will move
the piston carriage member 22 and the actuator member 25 from the
retracted second position shown in FIG. 6 to the extended, rest,
first position shown in FIG. 5.
[0044] FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional side view in which the
actuator member 25, the block member 23 and the piston carriage
member 22 are in identical positions to those shown in FIG. 5. FIG.
10, however, shows in cross-section the piston pump reservoir unit
16 as coupled to the dispenser base assembly 12. In this regard,
the piston pump reservoir unit 16 includes a reservoir bottle 50
with a neck 51 leading to an opening. The neck 51 has exterior
threads by which the internally threaded collar 26 of the piston
chamber-forming member 35 is secured to the reservoir bottle 50. As
best seen in side view in FIG. 10, the piston chamber-forming
member 35 forms two stepped cylindrical chambers 53 and 54 therein
and with a one-way inlet valve 55 providing communication from the
interior of the reservoir bottle 50 outwardly into the chambers.
The piston element 32 is slidably received within the piston
chamber-forming member 35 for coaxial sliding about a vertical
axis. The piston element 32 carries deformable discs 57 and 58.
Interaction of the piston element 32 within the piston
chamber-forming member 35 is such that with reciprocal coaxial
sliding of the piston element 32 within the piston chamber-forming
member 35 in a cycle of operation, fluid is drawn from the
reservoir bottle 50 past the inner disc 57 and through inlets 59
into a central hollow passageway 60 within the stem 61 of the
piston element 32 to exit out the discharge outlet 36. By reason of
the collar 36 of the piston chamber-forming member 35 being fixedly
secured to the housing 20, and with the piston element 32 engaged
with the piston carriage member 22, by manual movement of the
handle portion of the actuator member 25, the piston element 32 is
in a cycle of operation reciprocally moved coaxially relative to
the piston chamber-forming member 35 to dispense fluid from the
piston outlet 36. The piston pump reservoir unit 16 may be coupled
to and removed from engagement with the dispenser base assembly 12
by sliding the piston pump reservoir unit 16 forwardly or
rearwardly with the piston element 32 fully retracted.
[0045] Reference is made to FIG. 12 which shows a peristaltic pump
reservoir unit 18 comprising reservoir bottle 64 which has a neck
65 to which a deformable tube 66 sealingly attached by reason of a
cap 67 as best seen in FIG. 13. The peristaltic pump reservoir unit
18 is adapted to be removably secured to the dispenser base
assembly 10 with the cap 67 secured in friction fit between a pair
of flexible side arms 68 shown in FIG. 1 carried on the housing 20
at the forward end of a forwardly opening U-shaped channelway. As
seen in FIG. 14, with the cap 67 secured to the housing 20, the
deformable tube 66 extends downwardly between the first block
member 23 and the second block assembly 24.
[0046] As best seen in FIG. 2, the second block assembly 24
comprises a roller lever 71. The roller lever 71 has a pair of stub
axles 72 to be engaged in journal openings 73 in each side wall 74
of the actuator member 25 for pivoting about a roller lever pivot
axis 75. The roller lever 71 includes a spring arm 76 which extends
rearwardly to engage a rearwardly directed surface of a front wall
77 of the actuator member 25 so as to resist pivoting of the roller
lever 71 counterclockwise about the roller lever pivot axis 75 as
seen in FIGS. 2 and 14. The roller lever 71 has roller arms 78
which extend forwardly relative the roller lever pivot axis 75 to
where the roller arm 78 have journal openings 79 to engage stub
axles 80 of a roller 81 journalling the roller 81 to the roller
lever 71.
[0047] As seen in FIG. 5, the first block member 23 has forwardly
directed surfaces generally indicated 83 disposed in opposition to
the cylindrical surfaces of the roller 81. As best seen in FIG. 14,
the deformable tube 66 is disposed between the forward surfaces 83
of the first block member 23 and the rearwardly directed surfaces
on the roller 81. As shown in FIG. 14, the deformable tube 66 is in
open communication with fluid in the reservoir bottle 64. The
deformable tube 66 carries at its outer lower end 84, a one-way
outlet valve 99 which restricts fluid flow outwardly through the
outlet 85 at the lower end of the deformable tube 66 unless at
least some pressure is applied to fluid within the tube. Such a
one-way outlet valve 99 is preferred but not necessary as, for
example, if the material being dispensed is of high viscosity. FIG.
14, like FIG. 5, shows a condition in which the actuator member 25
has been pivoted counterclockwise about the pivot axis 37 the
maximum amount to a fully retracted position. In this position as
seen, the deformable tube 66 has been deformed between the
forwardly directed surface 83 of the first block member 23 and the
roller 81. Such deformation of the deformable tube 66 may, to a
minor extent, cause the spring arm 76 to be deflected permitting
the roller lever 71 to be biased counterclockwise about the roller
lever pivot axis 75. From the fully extended position shown in FIG.
14, on a user urging the handle portion 41 rearwardly, rearward
movement of the roller 81 compresses the deformable tube 66 into
the first block member 23 thus creating a pressure within the
deformable tube below the roller 81 and discharging fluid out the
outlet 85. On a user releasing the handle portion 45, the biasing
springs 21 acting on the piston carriage member 22 will urge the
actuator member 25 back to the fully extended position shown in
FIG. 14. To understand the relative movement of the first block
member 23 and the second block assembly 24, reference may be had to
FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 5 shows the positions of the actuator member 25
which carries the second block assembly 24 relative to the first
block member 23 substantially in the same extended position as
shown in FIG. 14. FIG. 6 shows the relative positions of the first
block member 23 and the roller 81 of the second block assembly 24
on pivoting of the actuator 25 forwardly to a retracted position.
As seen, the first block member 23 and the second block assembly 24
receive the deformable tube 66 therebetween. The first block member
23 and the second block assembly 24 are each mounted to the housing
20 in a manner that permits movement towards and away from each
other between a distant first position as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG.
14 and a proximate second position as schematically shown in FIG. 6
so as to compress the deformable tube 66 and thereby dispense
material from the outlet 85 at the distal end of the deformable
tube 66. Movement of the actuator member 25 between an extended and
a retracted position in a cycle of operation moves the first block
member 23 and the second block assembly 24 between the distant
first position and the proximate second position.
[0048] The forwardly directed surface 83 of the first block member
23 has a concave forwardly rounded protrusion portion or bump 88
disposed forwardly from a lower portion 89 of the surface 83. The
bump 88 and the roller 71 serve to compress the deformable tube 66
above its outlet 83 so as to trap fluid in the deformable tube
between an upper compressed portion of the tube between the bump 88
and the roller 71 and assist in extruding fluid out the outlet 85
by pressurizing fluid trapped below the bump 88 and the roller 71
in the deformable tube. As the roller 81 is moved rearwardly
compressing the deformable tube 66, with increased pressure, the
spring arm 76 will compress permitting the roller lever 71 to pivot
clockwise about the roller lever pivot axis 77 and thus direct the
roller downwardly relative to the deformable tube 66.
[0049] Coupling and removal of the peristaltic pump reservoir unit
18 can be accomplished by locating the deformable tube 66 in a
vertical gap between the forward surface 83 of the first block
member 23 and the roller 81 of the second block assembly 24 and
then moving the cap 67 downwardly into friction fit engagement
between the deformable arms 68 on the housing 20.
[0050] Reference is made to FIG. 15 which schematically shows a
second embodiment of a dispenser base assembly 10 in accordance
with the present invention. FIG. 15 shows a side view the same as
FIG. 5, however, in a modified second embodiment in which the
piston carriage member 22 also serves as the first block member 23.
In this regard, the piston carriage member 22 is identical to that
shown in the first embodiment of FIG. 5, however, includes a
forward portion 100 which carries the forwardly directed surface 83
and thus serves as the equivalent of the first block member 23 in
FIG. 1. In the embodiment of FIG. 15, on pivoting of the actuator
member 25 rearwardly, the roller 81 would move rearwardly as in the
case of the first embodiment, however, the first block member 23
would with the carriage member 22 move vertically. The effect of
relative upward movement of the first block member 23 relative to
the second block assembly 24 may be compensated by providing a
suitable configuration of the forwardly directed surface 83. The
forwardly directed surface 83 is shown in FIG. 15 to have in solid
lines, a configuration identical to that shown in the first
embodiment of FIG. 5. An alternate configuration for the forwardly
directed 83 is shown in FIG. 15 in dashed lines. As seen in dashed
lines, the bump 88 is provided to be lower on the forwardly
directed surface 83 and the lower portion 89 of the forwardly
directed surface 83 is disposed to angle downwardly and forwardly
such that with movement of the first block member 23 upwardly, the
lower portion 89 will further assist in compressing the tube 66
between the first block member 23 and the roller 81. It is to be
appreciated that other profiles for the forward surface 83 may be
selected having regard to the interaction and relative movement of
the first block member 23 and the second block assembly 24.
[0051] Reference is made to FIG. 16 which illustrates a third
embodiment of the dispenser base assembly in accordance with the
present invention. The embodiment of FIG. 16 like the embodiment of
FIG. 15 has the first block member 23 and its forwardly directed
surface 83 provided as an integral forward portion of the piston
carriage member 22 movable in unison with the piston carnage member
22. However, in FIG. 16, the first cam surface 43 of the arms 42 of
the actuator member 25 are provided directed downwardly so as to
engage upwardly directed first cam surfaces 44 on the piston
carriage member 22. As a result, with pivoting of the actuator
member 25 counterclockwise, the engagement between the cam surface
43 and the cam surface 44 slides the piston carnage member 22
downwardly. In respect of the peristaltic pump, movement of the
forwardly directed surface 83 of the first block member 23
downwardly can be of assistance in compressing the deformable tube
66 in a manner which urges fluid in the tube 66 downwardly. The
particular profile of the forwardly directed surfaces 83 in FIG. 16
can also be selected having regard to the interaction with the
roller 81 to optimize compression of the deformable tube 66 so as
to dispense fluid. In the embodiment of FIG. 16, biasing springs
would need to be provided so as to bias the piston carnage member
22 to slide upwardly relative the housing 20 rather than downwardly
as in the case with the first embodiment. While the piston pump 33
as shown in the first embodiment could be used with the third
embodiment of FIG. 16, the piston pump 33 would have the
disadvantage that it is in a withdrawal stroke with movement
provided by the bias of the springs that the piston element 32
would be moved so as to discharge fluid rather than in the
retraction stroke which in the embodiment of FIG. 16 is powered by
the user urging the handle portion 51 rearwardly. Therefore, in
accordance with the third embodiment of FIG. 16, it is preferred
that a piston pump is used in which pumping of fluid occurs during
the withdrawal stroke when the piston element 32 is withdrawn
outwardly from the piston chamber-forming member. Such a pump is
schematically shown in FIG. 17 in cross-section with the pump
having a stepped configuration with the inner chamber 57 being of a
larger diameter than the outer chamber such that dispensing of
fluid out the outlet 36 occurs when the piston element 32 is drawn
downwardly relative to the piston chamber-forming member 35.
[0052] In the preferred embodiments, the piston carriage member 22
is shown as being slidably mounted to the housing 20 for sliding
vertically. This is not necessary. The piston carriage member 22
could be mounted to the housing 20 for sliding other than
vertically. The piston carriage member 22 could rather than slide
in a linear path move in an arcuate path as, for example, with the
engagement between the piston carriage member 22 and the piston
element 32 being arcuate camming surfaces.
[0053] The preferred embodiments show the actuator member 25 as
being pivotally mounted to the housing. This is not necessary. The
actuator member merely needs to be mounted onto the housing 20 for
relative movement between a retracted position and an extended
position. For example, the actuator member 25 could be mounted for
front to rear sliding relative the housing 20 or for sliding
vertically or some angle to the vertical. The actuator member 25
merely needs to be coupled to each of the piston carriage member 22
and the second block assembly 24 so as to provide for translating
movement of the actuator member 25 into movement of both the piston
carriage member 20 and movement of the second block assembly
24.
[0054] In the preferred embodiments, the second block assembly 24
is shown as including a roller lever 71 and a roller 81. These are
preferred and not necessary. It is to be appreciated that in
accordance with the present invention, almost any form of
peristaltic pump arrangement may be utilized in which the actuator
member 25 on movement results in deformation of a deformable tube
to dispense fluid. Peristaltic pump arrangements in which one or
both of the block members may move and which may or may not include
rollers are within the scope of the present invention.
[0055] The embodiments illustrate two different reservoir bottles
50 and 64, each of which can be considered as exemplary and not
limiting. Each reservoir bottle preferably has a size,
configuration and shape such that it will be readily coupled to and
uncoupled from the base assembly 10. Insofar as an exterior cover
(not shown) may be provided in the dispenser, then the shape and
configuration of the reservoir bottle may be selected to maximize
the volume of fluid within the reservoir bottle which can be
constrained within the cover. If desired, the same reservoir bottle
could be used both for a piston pump and a peristaltic pump,
however, insofar as the socket for the piston pump and the socket
for the peristaltic pump are at different locations, then it may be
to optimize the volume of fluid that can be provided in a reservoir
within the same cover requires different reservoirs.
[0056] Reference is made to FIG. 18 which illustrates an
arrangement in which both a piston pump reservoir unit 18 and a
peristaltic pump reservoir unit 16 are coupled to the dispenser
base assembly 10 at the same time. In this arrangement, on movement
of the actuator member 25, fluid is dispensed from both the piston
pump, and the peristaltic pump. This provides for a combination of
fluids to be simultaneously dispensed as may be advantageous as
when the two fluids may not be capable of being stored in the same
reservoir. This arrangement is particularly preferable insofar as
the piston pump may be selected to be a pump which dispenses liquid
as a foam of air and the liquid. The preferred embodiments show the
use of piston pumps to dispense fluid. The nature of the piston
pump is not limited and a piston pump to dispense liquid foamed
with air such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,601,736 to Ophardt,
issued Aug. 5, 2003 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,303,099 to Ophardt, issued
Dec. 4, 2007, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by
reference, is advantageous for use with the present invention.
Various piston pumps are suitable for use including those disclosed
in U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,277 to Ophardt, issued Oct. 14, 1997; and
U.S. Pat. No. 7,556,178 to Ophardt, issued Jul. 7, 2009, the
disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0057] The nature of the material which may be dispensed from the
reservoirs is limited only by the nature of the pump mechanism.
Flowable material particularly for the peristaltic pump can include
paste-like materials including solid particles.
[0058] A dispenser in accordance with the present invention may
preferably have the dispenser base assembly mounted as to a wall
surface with a space below the base assembly where a user may place
the user's hand and onto which hand fluid may be dispensed
downwardly.
[0059] While the preferred dispenser shows a manual dispenser, that
is, with the actuating member 25 being moved by a user, it is to be
appreciated that a similar dispenser base assembly 10 could be
provided for an automated dispenser in which upon activation,
electrical power could be applied to a motor as to move the
activator member through a cycle of operation simultaneously moving
both the piston carriage member 22 and the second block assembly
24.
[0060] The coupling between the actuator member 25 and the piston
carriage member 22 has been shown by the way of camming surfaces.
Many variations and modifications of such camming surfaces may be
adopted as, for example, with the piston carriage member 22 have
stub axles extending laterally to its sides to be received in slots
in each of the arms 42 on the actuator member 24. The stub axles as
in the manner of pins could ride in the slots with the slots having
the desired configuration to provide for relative movement of the
piston carriage member 22.
[0061] In the preferred embodiments, the springs 21 are provided as
biasing means which bias the piston carriage member 22 relative to
the housing. Alternatively, the biasing means may be provided
between different components as, for example, between the housing
and the actuator member 25. Biasing springs would be acceptable
provided that the piston carriage member 22 and the activator
member 25 as well as the second block assembly 24 correspondingly
couple to and follow each other's corresponding motions. However,
it is not, strictly speaking, necessary that biasing springs 21 be
provided and, for example, a cycle of operation could be
accomplished by the activator member 25 being moved manually
inwardly and then outwardly by a user, however, with a need for the
piston carriage member 22 to be coupled to the actuator member 25
so as to follow the actuator member 25 when the actuator member 25
is moved in a cycle of operation.
[0062] While the invention has been described with reference to
preferred embodiments, many modifications and variations will now
occur to a person skilled in the art. For a definition of the
invention, reference is made to the following claims.
* * * * *